The World Blog by humble servant.

An attempt by Ukrainian armed forces to seize the infamous Snake Island by air and sea over the weekend resulted in failure and substantial casualties, the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Monday, noting that US and UK advisers were involved in planning the operation. “Over the past two days, the Kiev regime has made several desperate attempts to land by air and sea on Snake Island, which is important for ensuring control of the northwestern part of the Black Sea,” said Major General Igor Konashenkov, the Russian military spokesman. The assault was ordered personally by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday, and the plans to take the island were made by the general staff in Kiev “with direct participation” of advisers from the US and the UK, Konashenkov added. Russian forces stationed on the island thwarted the Ukrainian attack, and inflicted “great losses” on the enemy, according to Konashenkov. He said Ukraine lost four aircraft – three Su-24 ground attack jets and...

Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski has said that the pro-Ukraine protesters who threw red liquid at Sergey Andreyev, Russia’s ambassador to the country, in Warsaw had legitimate reasons to be angry at him. Andreyev was attacked as he was about to lay flowers in honor of fallen Red Army soldiers on Monday, when Russia celebrated its victory over Nazi Germany and its allies in Europe. “The gathering of opponents of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, where genocidal crimes are committed every day, was legal,” Kaminski wrote on Twitter. “The emotions of Ukrainian women, who took part in the protest and whose husbands are bravely fighting to defend their homeland, are understandable.” The minister confirmed that Polish authorities had warned Russian diplomats not to partake in the traditional wreath-laying ceremony on Victory Day. Ambassador Sergey Andreyev was attacked by protesters opposing Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. He later said that the liquid was syrup...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky marked Victory Day by sharing an image of a Ukrainian soldier wearing the ‘death’s head’ patch of an elite Nazi Waffen SS unit. While the image was soon deleted from his social media, the Ministry of Defense in Kiev also posted the photo. The photo was posted on Instagram and Telegram by Zelensky, who is Jewish, on Monday. In it, a soldier next to an artillery gun wears the ‘death’s head,’ or “totenkopf” insignia of the 3rd SS Panzer Division, a unit of elite Nazi soldiers infamous for committing numerous war crimes and massacres of French civilians and Polish Jews. Jewish advocacy groups consider the death’s head logo a “hate symbol” used by “Neo-Nazis and other white supremacists.” While the photo was soon removed, it was also posted to Twitter by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, under a quote by Zelensky acknowledging May 9 as the “Day of Victory over Nazism.” A screenshot of a Twitter post showing a soldier wearing Nazi insignia by the Ukr...

Indian refining giant Reliance Industries has shelved plans for repair operations at the world’s biggest oil refining complex as the company is striving to churn out more oil products since the margins on them have recently surged to three-year highs, Bloomberg reports. The company has been purchasing discounted cargoes of oil from Russia after European buyers opted to shy away from Russian crude, sending margins on products such as diesel and naphtha soaring. In January-March, the margin on diesel fuel reportedly soared 71% compared to the previous quarter, while those on gasoline were up 17% and naphtha prices rose 18.5%. Reliance’s refinery complex can process nearly 1.4 million barrels a day of almost all varieties of crude. The firm is reportedly known for its agility in oil trading, which helps it benefit from price swings. Since the EU member states are still struggling to agree on the Russian oil embargo, some European customers have been shunning Russian crude over the pa...

An open letter to the American people, as Russia celebrates its WW2 victory over the Nazis FILE PHOTO. World War II American Military Cemetery And Memorial in Luxembourg. © Getty Images / H. Armstrong Roberts In his 1998 classic, ‘The Greatest Generation’, famed NBC journalist Tom Brokow examined the lives and experiences of some of the millions of American men and women who fought in the Second World War. “At a time in their lives when their days and nights should have been filled with innocent adventure, love, and the lessons of the workaday world,” Brokow observed, “they were fighting in the most primitive conditions possible across the bloodied landscape of France, Belgium, Italy, Austria, and the coral islands of the Pacific. They answered the call to save the world from the two most powerful and ruthless military machines ever assembled, instruments of conquest in the hands of fascist maniacs. They faced great odds and a late start, but they did not protest. They succeeded o...

Cryptocurrency by market value, dropped below $33,000 during Monday trading, according to data from cryptocurrency news portal CoinDesk, losing half of its value since its peak six months ago. At 10:55 GMT, it was down nearly 5.5%, trading at $32,800, the lowest level since last July. Bitcoin hit an all-time high of $68,990 in November. The dip comes as part of a wider crypto market collapse, which has wiped out almost $300 billion from the value of cryptocurrencies over the last four days. The second-largest coin, Ethereum, is down by 13% since last week, Solana – by more than 16%, and Terra (LUNA) – by more than 25%. US stocks see worst day since 2020READ MORE: US stocks see worst day since 2020 Panic over soaring consumer prices and fears over the impact the crisis in Ukraine will have on the world economy have been named as reasons behind the crypto market crash, which is accompanied by a wider drop in stock markets around the world. Last week, central banks in the US, UK, an...

EU ambassadors have so far failed to reach an agreement on a new package of sanctions against Russia, as Hungary continues to oppose a ban on Russian oil imports, Bloomberg reported on Sunday, citing sources familiar with the talks. The EU has already come up with five rounds of sanctions, which are being imposed in response to Moscow’s ongoing military offensive in Ukraine. Earlier this week the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyden confirmed that proposals for the sixth package of sanctions include a gradually implemented total embargo on Russian oil. This is arguably the toughest measure so far for the EU itself, considering that in 2021, the bloc as a whole received 25% of its oil imports from Russia, according to Eurostat data. Acknowledging the objections of Hungary and Slovakia, which heavily rely on Russian imports, the EU has reportedly offered these two countries, as well as the Czech Republic, to postpone their implementation of sanctions until 2024. Othe...

An embargo on Russian oil will not stop the war or save any lives in Ukraine, a European Parliament member from Ireland, Clare Daly, has said. “Not because I’m sorry for Russia, not because I’m on the Putin payroll, but because sanctions don’t work. They have never stopped a war,” Daly said in a speech on Friday, as quoted by the Irish Independent. Daly, who is a member of the left-wing Independents 4 Change party, argued that “not a single Ukrainian life will be saved” by the EU’s embargo on Russian oil. “If Europe isn’t buying it, someone else will. The ordinary people of Europe will be paying that price.” The EU proposed this week to phase out Russian oil by the end of this year. Brussels has reportedly carved out exemptions for Hungary and Slovakia, whose economies heavily rely on Russian energy supplies. Daly said Russia “unambiguously” bears responsibility for deaths in Ukraine and the wave of refugees from the country. At the same time, she argued that the West has also con...

The ban on imports of Russian crude proposed by the EU authorities will only raise Moscow’s oil revenues, according to Norbert Rucker, head of economics and next-generation research at Swiss wealth manager Julius Baer. The impact of the ban on Russia is “debatable,” the analyst said in an interview with Swiss news outlet 20 Minuten, adding that the EU could have better alternatives to weaken Russia, such as punitive tariffs. Earlier this week, the European Union unveiled a plan to ban Russian oil imports for all of its 27 member states. The measure, which is aimed at hitting Russia’s national finances, comes as part of an unprecedented sanctions campaign launched by the West against Moscow over its military operation in Ukraine. Europe’s biggest economy faces wave of bankruptcies — banking chiefREAD MORE: Europe’s biggest economy faces wave of bankruptcies — banking chief “The big question now is whether the West is putting pressure on China and India; then the embargo would have a...

Mexico has been forced to cancel gasoline subsidies in regions bordering the US as American drivers flock to the area to stock up on cheaper fuel. “In the United States, gasoline prices are higher than in Mexico, and citizens of that country cross the border to stock up,” Mexico’s Finance Ministry said in a statement on Saturday, adding that the border regions are now suffering a gasoline shortage “from an imbalance between supply and demand.” The ministry went on to announce that the country’s subsidy policy, recently introduced to battle rising fuel prices, would not apply in the US border regions from April 2 to April 8. The suspension applies to cities in the states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Chihuahua, Sonora and Baja California, including Tijuana, considered one of the globe’s busiest border crossings. Biden says he ‘can’t do much’ on gas pricesREAD MORE: Biden says he ‘can’t do much’ on gas prices US gasoline prices smashed historic records last month as global oi...

About two-thirds of vehicle owners or households in the US are making significant changes to their driving patterns as the cost of gasoline keeps increasing, the latest survey carried out by Maru Public Opinion shows. According to the poll, 66% of drivers have either changed or will change their daily driving habits, if the gasoline price remains between $4.12 and $4.35 per gallon. The AAA average gasoline price is currently hovering around $4.3 per gallon. The figure is based on pump price data from 130,000 gas stations across the US. Out of 1,392 respondents, 34% said they will not likely change their driving habits until the price is close to $5 per gallon. Several US states, including California and Nevada, have already exceeded that level. “Gasoline prices have continued their rally in the last week with oil prices sustaining higher levels, but the real story has been diesel fuel, which has skyrocketed to its highest level ever seen,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analys...

The world is about to face an acute food crisis due to skyrocketing food prices, German Economic Cooperation and Development Minister Svenja Schulze told the Bild newspaper on Saturday, warning about a looming famine not seen since World War II. The minister has named the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s ongoing military operation in Ukraine as its causes. “The situation is highly dramatic,” the minister told the German tabloid in a late Saturday interview, adding that, according to the UN World Food Program, “more than 300 million people” are already suffering from acute hunger and the UN has to “constantly revise” this data upwards. Food prices around the world have grown by a third and have reached “record levels,” Schulze has warned, adding that the “bitter message is that we are facing the worst famine since World War II,” which could see “millions” die. Arm Ukraine to prevent global famine – German minister Read more Arm Ukraine to prevent global famine – German minister In its ...

Major retailers in the US have begun rationing baby formula amid soaring out-of-stock rates, according to media reports on Sunday. Some pharmacies and supermarkets are limiting shoppers to three infant and toddler formula products per purchase in stores and online, USA Today says, quoting the retailers. "Due to increased demand and various supplier challenges, infant and toddler formulas are seeing constraint across the country," the publication quotes Walgreens Boots Alliance spokesman Steve Cohen as saying. Between November and April, the out-of-stock rate for baby formula – a manufactured breast milk substitute made mostly from cow milk – jumped from single digits to nearly 40% nationwide and even exceeded 50% in some states, according to the latest figures from market data analysis company Datasembly. Finding formula has become a challenge for parents, CNN says, describing how some have to drive to neighboring states or go on social media and plead with strangers to ...

The ban on imports of Russian crude proposed by the EU authorities will only raise Moscow’s oil revenues, according to Norbert Rucker, head of economics and next-generation research at Swiss wealth manager Julius Baer. The impact of the ban on Russia is “debatable,” the analyst said in an interview with Swiss news outlet 20 Minuten, adding that the EU could have better alternatives to weaken Russia, such as punitive tariffs. Earlier this week, the European Union unveiled a plan to ban Russian oil imports for all of its 27 member states. The measure, which is aimed at hitting Russia’s national finances, comes as part of an unprecedented sanctions campaign launched by the West against Moscow over its military operation in Ukraine. Europe’s biggest economy faces wave of bankruptcies — banking chiefREAD MORE: Europe’s biggest economy faces wave of bankruptcies — banking chief “The big question now is whether the West is putting pressure on China and India; then the embargo would have a...

Ukraine told troops besieged by Russian forces in Mariupol that help was on its way, while making no actual attempts to end the blockade of the city, the commander of the country's 36th Naval Infantry Brigade has told RT. Colonel Vladimir Baranyuk and his unit were tasked with guarding the northern outskirts of Mariupol, a strategic port city in the southeast of Ukraine, amid the Russian military operation in the country. He was even awarded the Hero of Ukraine honor for his “courage and effective actions in repelling enemy attacks,” with Kiev asserting that the colonel and the other defenders of Mariupol would never surrender. But as the Russian forces kept gaining ground, Baranyuk ended up surrendering peacefully after being captured during a failed attempt to flee the city. He was apprehended hiding in the fields together with a number of his men a few kilometers north of Mariupol. The commander of the marines now says the Ukrainian government lied to him and his troops in ...

Thousands have assembled for an annual procession through Moscow holding portraits of their ancestors who fought against Nazi Germany and its allies in World War II as Russia celebrates Victory Day on Monday. The Immortal Regiment is a massive civil march held on Victory Day in which people carry portraits of ancestors who participated in the war. The procession will pass through Red Square in downtown Moscow. The event was held online in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions. The Red Army’s fight against Hitler’s forces is often called the Great Patriotic War, which started for the USSR on June 22, 1941. In Russia, May 9 is one of the country’s most revered public holidays. The Immortal Regiment began as a grassroots movement in the Siberian city of Tomsk in 2012. The idea was then quickly picked up by other cities. The processions are held on Victory Day all across Russia and in many places abroad, where Russian-speaking expats participate alongside locals.

Up to 11,000 troops marched on Moscow’s iconic Red Square on Monday as Russia celebrated the 77th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany during World War II. The conflict is largely called the Great Patriotic War in Russia, and May 9 is one of the country’s most revered holidays. The marching columns represented all branches of Russia’s Armed Forces, including airborne troops, military police, national guardsmen and cadets. More than 130 armored vehicles were led by the iconic T-34-85 tank, which was one of the main ‘workhorses’ of the Red Army during the war. The state-of-the-art T-90M Proryv (Breakthrough) main battle tanks, S-400 air-defense missile systems, and Yars thermonuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles, were among other top-notch weapons showcased on the Red Square.

Britain’s defence secretary has expressed belief that Ukraine, which is being supplied with weapons by the UK and other Western nations, is capable of achieving military victory in the conflict against Russia. “It is very possible that Ukraine will break the Russian army to the extent that they either have to go back to pre-February or they have to effectively fold in on itself,” Ben Wallace said during a speech at the National Army Museum in London on Monday. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin “must come to terms with how he’s lost in the long run, and he’s absolutely lost. Russia is not what it was,” he added. Wallace appears to be more optimistic about the events on the ground than some officials in Kiev. On Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s adviser, Alexey Arestovich, acknowledged that it was currently impossible for Ukraine to reverse the situation on the frontline. With the effects of international sanctions against Moscow not being felt yet and the West taking too long ...

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said that phasing out reliance on Russian oil will take time, as Tokyo will do its best to “minimize” the negative impact on businesses and the average person. The comments were made just after the Group of Seven (G7) agreed to target oil imports from Russia as part of sanctions over the military campaign in Ukraine. The G7 comprises the US, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan. “For a country heavily dependent on energy imports, it’s a very difficult decision. But G7 coordination is most important at a time like now,” Kishida told reporters on Monday. “As for the timing of the reduction or stoppage of [Russian] oil imports, we will consider it while gauging the actual situation,” he added. “We will take our time to take steps towards a phase-out.” The prime minister said Tokyo will “minimize the adverse effects” of the phase-out on businesses and ordinary people. A country with scarce resources, Japan imports Russian crude o...

Russia’s military operation in Ukraine was a preemptive move against future aggression, President Vladimir Putin has outlined during his address at the Victory Day parade in Red Square in Moscow on Monday. Putin not only praised the achievement of the Soviet people during World War II, but also addressed the Kremlin's reasons for the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev. Russia had to act because a large-scale offensive against the breakaway republics in the eastern Donbass region was being planned, he claimed. “We saw the military infrastructure unfolding [in Ukraine]; hundreds of foreign advisers starting their work; there were regular deliveries of the most modern weapons from NATO countries. The danger grew every day,” the president explained. “Russia gave a preemptive rebuff to aggression – this was a forced, timely and the only right decision by a sovereign, strong and independent country,” he added, referring to the launch of the military operation. “Despite all the...

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, has proposed seizing frozen Russian foreign exchange reserves and using them to cover the costs of rebuilding Ukraine once the military conflict is over. He believes the previous experience in Afghanistan serves as a template for such a measure. In an interview with FT published on Monday, Borrell said that in February, US President Joe Biden signed an executive order “to help enable certain US-based assets belonging to Afghanistan’s central bank, Da Afghanistan Bank, to be used to benefit the Afghan people.” In Borrell’s opinion, “it is full of logic” to use Russia’s assets for similar purposes. “We have the money in our pockets, and someone has to explain to me why it is good for the Afghan money and not good for the Russian money,” he said. Borrell stated that one of the most important questions now is: “Who is going to pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine?” As an “incredible amount of money” will be needed, and considering that the amount...

Up to 11,000 soldiers marched through Moscow’s iconic Red Square on Monday, followed by more than 100 armored vehicles, as Russia marked the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany and its allies in World War II. The Red Army’s fight against Nazi troops is known as the Great Patriotic War in Russia, and May 9 is one of the country’s most revered holidays. “It is our duty to cherish the memory of those who vanquished Nazism,” President Vladimir Putin said as he kicked off the parade. He added it was crucial “to stay vigilant and do everything so that the horror of a global war would never be repeated.” The parade in Moscow took place amid Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, which was launched in late February. The marching columns represented all branches of Russia’s armed forces. They included elite airborne troops, military police, national guardsmen, Cossacks, and cadets. The vehicles were led by the historic T-34-85 tank, which was used extensively by the Red Army...

Production of crude oil is on the rise again in Russia in May, after having fallen last month due to Western sanctions, Deputy Prime Minister and former Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Monday. “The situation is stable. Production has increased compared to April. We expect that the figures will partially recover in May and will be better,” Novak told journalists. A number of new customers have started buying oil from Russia, Novak added, saying that exports have actually risen to some destinations, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Moscow is currently looking at developing new infrastructure projects to diversify its oil deliveries, such as an expansion of a pipeline to China and construction of new ports. TASS earlier reported that crude oil production dropped by 9% last month compared to March, as international sanctions imposed against Russia over its military operation in Ukraine prohibited Western companies from energy cooperation with the country. The US banned im...

Mutual trade between Russia and China amounted to nearly $51.09 billion (343.87 billion yuan) in the first four months of the current year, marking growth of 25.9% compared to the same period one year ago, according to the latest data released by China’s customs office. China’s exports to Russia grew 11.3% to $20.24 billion, while Russia’s sales to China surged 37.8% to $30.85 billion. Bilateral trade turnover in April rose 8.7% against March to $12.69 billion. Oil, natural gas, and coal account for nearly 70% in the value of goods imported by China from Russia. Russia also exports copper and copper ore, lumber, fuel, and seafood. China exports a wide range of products to Russia, including smartphones, industrial and special-purpose equipment, toys, footwear, motor vehicles, air conditioners, and computers. German exports to Russia sink – reportREAD MORE: German exports to Russia sink – report In 2020, trade turnover between Russia and China declined by 2.9% to $107.76 billion due ...

Seizing the foreign-exchange reserves of the Russian state would be an act of “complete lawlessness" and would undermine the very basis of international relations, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko has said, commenting on an idea floated by the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borell. In a recent interview with FT, Borrell suggested seizing Russia's frozen reserves and using them to cover the costs of rebuilding Ukraine once the conflict is over. Responding to these remarks, Grushko told RIA Novosti that the EU's “appetite comes with eating” and that confiscation of the assets would be “complete lawlessness, the destruction of the very foundation of international relations.” In Grushko’s opinion, such a decision, if taken, “will hit the Europeans themselves, hit the modern financial system and undermine confidence in Europe and in the West in general.” “This is the law of the jungle,” he concluded. Use frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine – EUREAD MORE: Use froze...

Rep. Mike Gallagher, a Republican from Wisconsin, has claimed that the American rush to supply Ukraine has “burned through” years worth of weapons stockpiles, hampering Washington’s ability to simultaneously arm Taiwan against potential conflict with China. Meanwhile, the US’ vast military industry is lobbying the White House for more contracts. “We are running low in terms of our stockpiles,” Gallagher, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, told Fox News on Friday. “We just burned through seven years of Javelins and that’s not only important as we continue to try and help the Ukrainians win in Ukraine, that's important as we try to simultaneously defend Taiwan from aggression from the Chinese Communist Party.” “They are going to need access to some of these same weapons systems, and we simply don’t have the stockpiles at present in order to backfill what we’ve spent in Ukraine,” he continued. Captured Ukrainian officer labels American Javelins ‘useless’ Read more Cap...